Another life time ago my boss send me away over Christmas.
Since the Ottawa ‘67s had three defencemen — Mark Patterson, Brad Shaw and Bruce Cassidy — and coach Brian Kilrea with Team Canada, it was off to Norrkoping, Sweden for the 1984 World Juniors a few days before Christmas.
Santa did find his way to see Alicia, six and Bob, three, at home with their ma and grandma.
We’ve covered some exciting events over the years worrying about getting the story in on time and not getting caught up with the outcome, whether it was the Montreal Expos, the ‘67s, Queen’s University, Kingston Collegiate Blues or whatever.
Five games in, Kilrea told me he had a job for me: “my cousin Gary’s son, Brad Hamilton is flying in from Switzerland for the Russia game, can you look after him please?”
It was not a problem with the time difference and plenty of good seats were available.
CBC’s Fred Walker and the Swedish press were there, but I managed to get Brad a pass. He was going to sit beside me, but not before I delivered the rules of engagement.
“Look kiddo no cheering, OK, you are here to watch, no clapping, just sit, observe and learn,” I told him. “If not, we’ll all be kicked out and it’s too cold to walk to the hotel.
“Put your hands in your pockets that way you can’t clap your hands.”
So, Canada, led by Russ Courtnall, with Ken Wregget, Allan Bester, opened with a 4-2 loss to Finland, beat Team USA 5-2, Switzerland 12-0, West Germany 7-0 and Sweden 6-2, before playing the Russians.
This was 12 years removed from Paul Henderson’s goal … this was when the the Russian team issued a press release saying they wanted to be known as the Sovets and my boss said “call ‘em Russians,” … this was time when a guy on the desk in Ottawa said “don’t be writing any stories on players from those commie countries, just our guys,” … this wsa a long time ago.
Down a goal late in the second Canada wound up with a two-man advantage for almost two minutes. Canada must have been inside the Russian zone for all but 15 seconds, riffling pucks off the post, missing opening nets.
Nothing.
As the second penalty expired the Russians broke out on a 3-on-1 break and facing a wide open net, clanked one off the post.
The Canucks regrouped and came down and scored the tying goal.
I stood up quickly and punched my fist into the air — either a proud Canadian or a goofball reporter depending upon your view.
Embarrassed, I quickly sat down.
Brad had the Kilrea sense of humor. He leaned over and whispered:
“Look kiddo no cheering, you are hear to watch, just sit, observe and learn, we could all be kicked out, it’s too cold to walk to the hotel. Next time put your hands in your pockets.”
The game ended in a 3-3 tie.
Everyone will be watching when the World Juniors kick off against the Russians Boxing Day.
No one will be watching me as I watch.

Another life time ago my boss send me away over Christmas.
Since the Ottawa ‘67s had three defencemen — Mark Patterson, Brad Shaw and Bruce Cassidy — and coach Brian Kilrea with Team Canada, it was off to Norrkoping, Sweden for the 1984 World Juniors a few days before Christmas.
Santa did find his way to see Alicia, six and Bob, three, at home with their ma and grandma.
We’ve covered some exciting events over the years worrying about getting the story in on time and not getting caught up with the outcome, whether it was the Montreal Expos, the ‘67s, Queen’s University, Kingston Collegiate Blues or whatever.
Five games in, Kilrea told me he had a job for me: “my cousin Gary’s son, Brad Hamilton is flying in from Switzerland for the Russia game, can you look after him please?”
It was not a problem with the time difference and plenty of good seats were available.
CBC’s Fred Walker and the Swedish press were there, but I managed to get Brad a pass. He was going to sit beside me, but not before I delivered the rules of engagement.
“Look kiddo no cheering, OK, you are here to watch, no clapping, just sit, observe and learn,” I told him. “If not, we’ll all be kicked out and it’s too cold to walk to the hotel.
“Put your hands in your pockets that way you can’t clap your hands.”
So, Canada, led by Russ Courtnall, with Ken Wregget, Allan Bester, opened with a 4-2 loss to Finland, beat Team USA 5-2, Switzerland 12-0, West Germany 7-0 and Sweden 6-2, before playing the Russians.
This was 12 years removed from Paul Henderson’s goal … this was when the the Russian team issued a press release saying they wanted to be known as the Sovets and my boss said “call ‘em Russians,” … this was time when a guy on the desk in Ottawa said “don’t be writing any stories on players from those commie countries, just our guys,” … this wsa a long time ago.
Down a goal late in the second Canada wound up with a two-man advantage for almost two minutes. Canada must have been inside the Russian zone for all but 15 seconds, riffling pucks off the post, missing opening nets.
Nothing.
As the second penalty expired the Russians broke out on a 3-on-1 break and facing a wide open net, clanked one off the post.
The Canucks regrouped and came down and scored the tying goal.
I stood up quickly and punched my fist into the air — either a proud Canadian or a goofball reporter depending upon your view.
Embarrassed, I quickly sat down.
Brad had the Kilrea sense of humor. He leaned over and whispered:
“Look kiddo no cheering, you are hear to watch, just sit, observe and learn, we could all be kicked out, it’s too cold to walk to the hotel. Next time put your hands in your pockets.”
The game ended in a 3-3 tie.
Everyone will be watching when the World Juniors kick off against the Russians Boxing Day.
No one will be watching me as I watch.